Results 8,641-8,660 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Irish Language (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am not aware of any change in policy in this regard and none has been communicated to me. Bodies under my remit, for example, Bord na Móna, and that of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, for example, Coillte, are branded and trade under the names they have been given. That will continue to be the case. It was Deputy Ó Cuív's Government which changed the name of...

Irish Language (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: If there is any policy by the Government to change practice and refer to the bodies in question in the English language only-----

Irish Language (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: -----I am not aware of it. Such a policy is not intended. It is not exactly the daily meat of the Government to think about what we will call any bodies that are set up. We are trying to close down some bodies and merge and amalgamate others. It is not immediately on the agenda to have an bord nua in whatever area. If, however, there are good reasons to establish a new State agency or...

Constitutional Amendments (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Is Deputy Higgins not interested in running on the next occasion?

Written Answers — Disposal of State Assets: Disposal of State Assets (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The EU/IMF Programme for Ireland contains a commitment that the Government will outline methods to raise funds through disposals of State owned assets. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to finance investment in specific areas of economic infrastructure from the proceeds of the sale of certain non-strategic State Assets. The Government has already demonstrated its commitment...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 69 together. ESB has been operating a micro-generation feed-in-tariff scheme for the domestic sector for the past number of years, which has 387 customers signed up to date. The available tariff is 19c kWh, made up of a 10 cent kWh, tariff offered by ESB Networks and a 9 cent kWh, tariff offered by ESB Electric Ireland (formerly Customer Supply)....

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 62 together. Offshore wind is a rapidly maturing technology worldwide however it is still not commercially viable at the open wholesale market price of electricity and is dependant on high public subsidies to underpin a developers financial business case. The electricity sector, including the renewable energy sector, operates in an open liberalised...

Written Answers — Petroleum Exploration: Petroleum Exploration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that Wood MacKenzie is a commercial service provider for the energy, mining and metals industry, that it evaluates economic indicators as well as market supply and demand price trends, and that it publishes its findings annually which are available to its subscribers for a fee. As neither I nor my Department subscribe to this service, I do not have a copy of the report referenced...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011, the Government agreed the introduction of general pay ceilings for future appointments to senior posts across the public service and for CEO posts in Commercial State Companies. A general pay ceiling of €250,000 was agreed for future CEO appointments to Commercial State Companies. In capping the pay of new appointees, the Government's view was...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the NewERA proposals in the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to co-invest with the private sector and commercial Semi State sector to provide Next Generation Broadband customer access to every home and business in the State. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce which I convened earlier this year, has an important role to play in this regard. The Taskforce, which I...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has taken no decision to merge the Commission for Communication Regulation and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It has however, directed that the proposal be critically reviewed and reported and reported on before mid 2012. In this context I intend to set up a Group to examine the feasibility or otherwise of this proposed merger. The Group will be mandated to address...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Standards: Broadcasting Standards (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am responding to the Deputy's Question in so far as my own Department is concerned. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is established as an independent statutory body under the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act also outlines the codes governing standards and practice to be observed by broadcasters. The Compliance Committee of the BAI is charged under the Act with ensuring that all...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. Ireland is critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas to meet its energy needs. The Government is fully committed to enhancing energy security and to delivering national energy efficiency and renewable energy objectives, which are aimed at moving the economy away from reliance on imported, carbon...

Written Answers — Petroleum Exploration: Petroleum Exploration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that my Department has had informal contact with the Northern Ireland Authorities in relation to onshore petroleum authorisations in the North West Carboniferous Basin. The petroleum authorisations granted in both jurisdictions are at a very early stage and the engagement between the respective authorities will continue should these authorisations proceed to the drilling stage.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The electronic communications market is, and has been since its liberalisation, a commercial competitive market. Thus, the provision of services, including broadband, is a matter for those private sector service providers, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The Government only intervenes in cases of market failure. Between the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The telecommunications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999 and, since then, has seen the steady growth and development of strong well-regulated competition in the provision of the full range of telecommunications products and services which are broadly capable of meeting the current needs of telecommunications customers. Under the NewERA proposals in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Petroleum Extraction: Petroleum Extraction (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is currently funding preliminary background research in the form of a study being carried out by Aberdeen University and a report in respect of this study is expected early...

Written Answers — Energy Market Regulation: Energy Market Regulation (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's energy policy, including the regulatory framework, seeks to deliver a secure, sustainable and competitive energy supply. In achieving this objective, the regulatory framework must meet evolving energy policy challenges and also ensure compliance with the requirements of both EU and national legislation. The regulation of the electricity and gas market is the responsibility...

Written Answers — Disposal of State Assets: Disposal of State Assets (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: No decision has been taken to partly privatise Bord Gáis. The latest text of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the Troika of the European Union (EU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) commits the State to an ambitious programme of state asset disposal. The Programme for Government includes an intention to finance investment from the...